PCV valve upgrade
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 126
From: Illinois
PCV valve upgrade
I'm tired of cleaning/replacing my PCV every other oil change.
The thing just keeps getting stuck restricting flow or vice versa.
I took the thing apart and saw no signs why it would get stuck. By the way, it's all plastic inside/outside except for the spring.
I'm thinking it gets hot back there and the plastic plunger expands causing it to drag in the channel.
Well I was working on my neighbors 97 Camry and saw his PCV. Noticed it was metal.
He has 130k and looked like it was still original. Took it off and lo and behold...the thing still works!
Went to the Dealer and here's what I did:
The thing just keeps getting stuck restricting flow or vice versa.
I took the thing apart and saw no signs why it would get stuck. By the way, it's all plastic inside/outside except for the spring.
I'm thinking it gets hot back there and the plastic plunger expands causing it to drag in the channel.
Well I was working on my neighbors 97 Camry and saw his PCV. Noticed it was metal.
He has 130k and looked like it was still original. Took it off and lo and behold...the thing still works!
Went to the Dealer and here's what I did:
nice, but couldn't you just have had it replaced every other oil change? since they are only like 9 bucks? that what my oil change place charged me to change it. But really neat. I guess the metal would last longer.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,560
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
Good idea. I think Ron (Lexmex) mentioned that the PCV valve has been revised (we will wait till he responds as it could be some other 90degree tube part).
Out of curiosity, I see lots of white specs over tubing and block. Did it happen after you switch to non-sealed battery ... from battery fumes?
Salim
Out of curiosity, I see lots of white specs over tubing and block. Did it happen after you switch to non-sealed battery ... from battery fumes?
Salim
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 126
From: Illinois
Those white specs are actually salt residue from the past winter.
Too lazy to wash it down. Maybe this weekend.
Yeah midwest sucks here especially when they put down tons of salt on the roads even if it's not snowing. Then it rains instead and everything gets kicked up in the engine bay.
nice, but couldn't you just have had it replaced every other oil change? since they are only like 9 bucks? that what my oil change place charged me to change it.
Now with this...I don't have to worry about it for a while. I will still check it's condition though every now and then.
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Oil Burner?
Is your RX a oil burner? I just changed the PCV in my 112K 1999 RX for the first time in ten+ years. It was clean and still working. I've never added a quart until the valve covers started leaking on the garage floor last year. And, that was the first quart added ever. I change oil between 7,000 to 8k miles. I just tightened the covers and the leak stopped.
Jerry
Jerry
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
From: NC
My 2001 has a metal one that screws in. Looks very similar to our 2005 Camry. I have 118,000 on the RX and it's still clean and rattles.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think they went to the metal PCV in 2001. Our neighbor has a 2000 and it's plastic.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think they went to the metal PCV in 2001. Our neighbor has a 2000 and it's plastic.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 126
From: Illinois
Nah...just stopped rattling. I really think it's the heat generated back there that's causing it. Well in my case. Don't know about others.
Did some searching and indeed, they switched to a metal type scew on 2001 model with Jan. 01 production date and up.
So from 99-12/00 is plastic.
1/01 - 2003 model RX300 is a metal screw.
blueridge My 2001 has a metal one that screws in. Looks very similar to our 2005 Camry. I have 118,000 on the RX and it's still clean and rattles.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think they went to the metal PCV in 2001. Our neighbor has a 2000 and it's plastic
I'm not 100% sure, but I think they went to the metal PCV in 2001. Our neighbor has a 2000 and it's plastic
So from 99-12/00 is plastic.
1/01 - 2003 model RX300 is a metal screw.
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CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,329
Likes: 210
From: Miami, Florida
I bought one of those Camry ones about a year ago and experimented with it for awhile, but then just ended hollowing out my plastic one and doing that modification I told you about the other day.
There was never any revision to the plastic version, it just went straight over to metal and was adjusted to a 45 degree angle.
I'm so glad I hollowed my PCV out, vehicle seems to run much smoother now with that setup I have.
There was never any revision to the plastic version, it just went straight over to metal and was adjusted to a 45 degree angle.
I'm so glad I hollowed my PCV out, vehicle seems to run much smoother now with that setup I have.
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CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,329
Likes: 210
From: Miami, Florida
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCV_valve
To make a long story short, there are some gases that build up as a byproduct of combustion, they get into the crankcase and they need to be vented in order to avoid pressure from building up. However, oil residue and other things can impede the function of the PCV valve over time and it needs replacement and/or cleaning every so often. The gases get vented from the PCV valve via a hose back into the intake chamber to be burned in the combustion. That latter part is for emissions reasons, but in the old days there used to be a long hose that would go near the ground to vent the gases.
It's more important as the vehicle gets older because the cylinder walls and piston rings show wear and thus more gases can get by and thus need to be vented.
It's a cheap thing to replace for your highlander you will have the metal version of the PCV valve (not the plastic one shown earlier).
Thanks Lemex! and another question for you, this morning I changed my 02 V6 AWD Highlander trany fluid, i looked all over, but couldn't find the front differential bolt to drain more fluid from it, does the highlander have that drain bolt? thanks
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,189
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From: NY/NJ
